Sony thanks Europe for 40 million PS2s sold by putting March 2007 PS3 launch in doubt

10 November 2006

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Posted by:Ferry

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced 40 million PlayStation 2 units are now sold throughout Europe and the PAL territories.

The 40 million mark establishes PS2 as the most popular computer entertainment system in Europe and surpasses its predecessor, PlayStation (PS one), which sold just over 39 million units. Now into its 6th year, PS2 has proved a worthy successor to the groundbreaking PS one, which at the same 6 year mark had sold just 33 million units.

”We are extremely proud of the continuing success of PlayStation 2”, said David Reeves, SCEE President and CEO. ”In the last month or so sales of PlayStation 2 throughout Europe and PAL territories has exceeded 100,000 units per week, which is extremely pleasing and proves the format is as popular now as it ever was. Through the continual development of new and innovative gaming titles, in particular the social gaming phenomena such as EyeToy, SingStar and BUZZ! PlayStation 2 will remain the computer entertainment system of choice for new and experienced gamers alike.”

The 40 million milestone also coincides with another noteworthy achievement; PlayStation 2 now has over 2000 software titles available in Europe (out of 8,180 worldwide) with approximately another 50 due for release prior to Christmas.

But all is not well in Euro Sonyland where PS3 is concerned.

In an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison has declined to offer a guarantee that the PlayStation 3 will hit Europe in March as previously announced. Here are some choice quotes from him that make a European March 2007 launch sound even more like an afterthought.

“It’s not my job to comment on hardware supply issues other than to say some very smart people are working very hard to catch up,” he continued… “In fact, the ramp up is already starting to happen in supply and output, just obviously too late for us to have launched in Europe at the same times as the US.”

The irony of the PS3 delays in Europe lies in the fact that 111.25 million PlayStation 2 units have been shipped worldwide as of September 30, 2006. And the spread between all territories shows Japan received 23.99 million, Europe 42.40 million and America 44.86 million PS2′s.

Meaning Europe is almost equally as large a territory for Sony as America, so in all fairness Sony should’ve allocated the initial production run of PS3′s evenly throughout all territories. Oh well, SCEE didn’t want these PS3 production problems either and still have 2.40 million PS2′s to be sold.